I stared at Adrian.
He didn't move.
Neither did Malik.
Dominic looked between us, his face tense.
My phone was still in my hand.
ASK ADRIAN WHAT HE DID THAT NIGHT.
The message seemed to burn into my mind.
"What did you do?"
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"Lina—"
"No."
I stood.
"You're not going to say my name and make this disappear."
He looked at me silently.
"What did you do that night?"
"I tried to save you."
I frowned.
"Save me?"
"Yes."
"Then why does someone want me to ask you what you did?"
"I don't know."
"That's a lie."
His eyes hardened.
"You think I don't know that?"
"Then tell me!"
The room fell silent.
Finally, Adrian walked toward the window.
"I wasn't supposed to be there."
"Where?"
"The warehouse."
My heart began racing.
"The night I was attacked?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
Malik looked at him.
"You never told her that."
"I didn't have the chance."
I turned to Malik.
"You knew?"
"I knew Adrian was there."
"But you never told me."
"No."
I laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
Adrian turned back toward me.
"I arrived after the attack had already started."
"What did you see?"
"A car."
"What kind?"
"Black sedan."
"Who was inside?"
"I couldn't see."
"Then what did you do?"
He hesitated.
"I found you."
My heart stopped.
"You found me?"
"You were lying on the ground."
I felt a strange pressure in my chest.
"You were unconscious."
"Was Malik there?"
"No."
"Dominic?"
"No."
"Then who was?"
Adrian looked at me.
"I was."
I swallowed.
"What happened?"
"I carried you away from the warehouse."
"Why?"
"Because the people who attacked you were coming back."
"Where did you take me?"
"To someone who could help you."
"Who?"
He didn't answer.
"Who, Adrian?"
"Your mother."
My eyes widened.
"My mother?"
"Yes."
I remembered nothing.
Not that night.
Not Adrian carrying me.
Not my mother.
Nothing.
"Did she know you?"
"Yes."
"How?"
Another silence.
Then Adrian said something that made my entire body go cold.
"She hired me."
"For what?"
"To protect you."
I stared at him.
"You were my bodyguard?"
"Something like that."
"Then why are you my teacher now?"
His expression changed.
"Because years later, your mother contacted me again."
"Why?"
"To make sure you were still safe."
I shook my head.
"This is insane."
"I know."
"No. It's more than insane."
I pointed at him.
"You've been watching me."
"I've been protecting you."
"You followed me."
"When necessary."
"You knew about Malik."
"Yes."
"You knew about Dominic."
"Yes."
"You knew someone was after me."
"Yes."
I felt tears gathering in my eyes.
"And you never told me."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because the person who wanted you dead never stopped looking for you."
My blood ran cold.
"After all these years?"
"Yes."
I sat down slowly.
"So they still think I'm dead?"
Adrian nodded.
"They believe the girl they attacked that night died."
I looked at Malik.
"And you?"
He wiped his face.
"I helped keep the truth hidden."
Dominic spoke quietly.
"We all did."
I looked at the three of them.
Three men.
Three secrets.
One night.
One girl who was supposed to die.
Me.
Then my phone vibrated again.
I looked down.
A new message.
YOU ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.
My hands shook.
Another message followed.
BUT YOU'RE TRUSTING THE WRONG PEOPLE.
I looked up.
All three men were watching me.
My heart raced.
"Who is sending these messages?"
Nobody answered.
Then Adrian's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
"Who is it?" I asked.
He didn't answer.
The phone rang again.
He finally picked up.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then Adrian's face went completely pale.
"What do you want?"
Malik stood.
"Who is it?"
Adrian raised his hand.
"Stay back."
I watched his expression.
The caller said something.
Adrian closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
"You're supposed to be dead."
My blood froze.
He ended the call.
"Who was that?" I asked.
Adrian looked at me.
For the first time, there was no mystery in his eyes.
Only fear.
"The person who tried to kill you."
Nobody breathed.
I stood slowly.
"Where are they?"
Adrian's voice dropped.
"They're here."
A loud crash came from outside.
We all turned toward the window.
The glass shattered.
I screamed.
Malik pulled me down.
Dominic grabbed Adrian.
A dark object rolled across the floor.
Smoke filled the room.
"Get her out!" Adrian shouted.
Malik grabbed my hand.
"Run!"
We rushed toward the door.
Behind us, another crash sounded.
Someone had entered the building.
And as Malik pulled me down the corridor, I heard a voice from behind us.
A voice I recognized.
A voice I had heard many times before.
"Lina."
I stopped.
Malik pulled my hand.
"Don't look back."
But I did.
And the moment I saw the person standing in the smoke…
I realized the biggest secret had not been about Malik.
Or Dominic.
Or Adrian.
It had been about someone much closer to me.
Someone I had trusted all along.